Oct 23, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and striker Jan Mlakar have reflected on their career pathways and domestic football dynamics. Čeh, the former captain of Slovenia's national side, discussed transitioning into coaching after his playing career ended. He worked for over a decade alongside manager Srečko Katanec, including seven years coaching in Asia. Despite maintaining close historical links to Olimpija Ljubljana and Austria's Grazer AK, Čeh voiced continued respect for rival club NK Maribor.

Simultaneously, 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar has rejoined NK Maribor for a third stint, seeking his first league championship with the club. Mlakar highlighted his confidence in leadership figures Zlatko Zahović and Darko Milanič. He also cautioned that despite ongoing internal turmoil at Olimpija Ljubljana, the capital side remains a formidable opponent in derby matches.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Russian forces launched new drone strikes against Kyiv, injuring a resident following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the UN General Assembly, in which he referred to Vladimir Putin as "patient zero who wanted the war." The strikes align with an explicit campaign by the Russian Defense Ministry to destroy Ukraine's energy grid before winter, while Ukrainian counter-attacks on Russian refineries have forced Moscow to import fuel.

Simultaneously, security concerns escalated in Europe after German authorities identified two Moscow-linked suspects in connection with explosive drone incidents in Leipzig. Responding to the suspected sabotage, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, "we do not tolerate attacks on EU soil, ready to respond."

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

State media in Tehran claimed that Iranian forces targeted six vessels, including three commercial tankers and three United States ships, along with launching missiles at American aircraft carriers near the Strait of Hormuz. Emergency responders successfully extinguished a fire aboard one of the damaged tankers.

In response, US President Donald Trump downplayed the strikes, asserting that "Hormuz is open" and claiming Tehran faces "great difficulty." However, US intelligence assessments indicate that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders feel emboldened, raising risks of further conflict. Maritime tensions have escalated since a June ceasefire collapsed following US military strikes in July.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Russian territorial advances across Ukraine have effectively stalled through late September despite contrary claims from Moscow. Independent mapping data from the Institute for the Study of War and DeepState reveals virtually no net land changes, while Finnish analysts from Black Bird Group recorded only modest Russian gains in August. In response, Ukrainian forces have initiated targeted counter-attacks, regaining localized ground near Oleksandrivka.

Simultaneously, Russian forces have escalated attacks on Ukraine's power and heating infrastructure ahead of winter. Prime Minister Serhij Koreckyj warned that recent strikes targeting Kyiv mark the largest bombardment of energy facilities since last spring. Meanwhile, Ukrainian air defense interception rates for incoming drones fell from 92 percent in May to 83 percent in September.

Sources: Deník N, Ekonomický deník, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

Italian public sentiment toward artificial intelligence has shifted markedly despite rising usage across the country. According to a survey by SWG and Fondazione Lottomatica, favorable perception of AI fell to 49 percent from 68 percent in 2020, while public concern regarding workplace automation and ethics rose to 45 percent.

Simultaneously, market data from Audicom indicates expanding platform adoption, with OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini leading local usage. National reporting highlights key Italian figures in the global tech sector, including Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei, alongside broader scrutiny of corporate efforts to delay government oversight and ongoing fears over AI-driven job losses.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica.